manueltf

I actually think alot of you are wrong in believing rigo schools donaire 10/10 times. I believe that donaire was a victim of his own success and didn't really study rigo like he should have. He went into the fight believing that he would catch him easily and ko him sooner or later like he has done all recent previous opponents. If any of you are true boxing fans and have watched donaire enough, you would know that donaire is a counter puncher, so him trying to lead on top of him just looking for a homerun punch against a slick defensive counter puncher wasn't going to work. Unfortunately for donaire he wasn't prepared with a plan b, c, etc. rigo was slick and all the feints and movements both were doing just worked in rigo's favor. I don't think rigo's punching power really bothered donaire until the end of the fight, donaire just looked a lot slower then normal. I do believe rigo is a tad bit faster and quicker then donaire, but overall donaire can adjust to that with timing. I also believe he did have a hard time making weight, judging by previous fights where he is actually pretty quick with jumping in and out, he didn't do that at all in this fight, and he didn't cut off the ring because he didn't have that in a game plan. Overall, with coming in at a comfortable weight, and by knowing what to expect from rigo the fight will definitely be different. Rigo is gonna fight the same way 10/10 yes but donaire has the skills and is capable of adjusting with correct game plan and knowing what to expect this time around. I'm not buying the shoulder thing, but I will buy the weight issue and lack of time with robert garcia. I actually think you are absolutely wrong in believing Rigo don't schools Donaire 10/10 times. Even in a fight where Donaire beats Rigo with one KO punch, Donaire would have been mastered by Rigo until that punch. - Rigo's physical conditions are superior (speed, power from both hands, resistence and recuperation capacity). This conditions came from genetics and also from a hard training that started when Rigo was 10 years old. Donaire could try to equal Rigo's physics conditions only with his size and with his 12-15 extra pounds in the ring. - Rigo's technique is far superior (some people talk about styles... but I prefer to talk about technique) Rigo's defensive technique is far better and also is his attack. Rigo's punches are technically perfects. Rigo moves and positions his hands, arms, torso and feet perfectly when he attacks and also when he recovers his defensive position. Rigo's boxing technique is a mix of sport, art and science. Donaire's best and hardest punch is a curve punch. He can't throw his straight punches (which are the fastests punches in boxing) as fast, precise and hard as Rigo can do (because he don't knows how to do it).I think Donaire will never reach this technical level because he has 30 years and he need some years of perfectioning and... good trainers, with a lot of sport science knowledge, with real modern and scientific methods. - Rigo's boxing experience is so big that Donaire will never accumulate similar amount of experience in his boxing life. Rigo is a world elite boxer since 2000. He is undefeated for more than 10 years and in the middle won: 2 Olympic Games, 2 World Championships, many other tournaments (where boxers can´t avoid or select rivals) and... SEVEN Cuban National Championships!!! That's why he is the best boxer in amateur history, the best boxer in Cuba boxing history (amateur and pro) and one of the best in boxing history. Rigo fought and defeated several boxers similar and superior to Donaire (a known example: Gamboa, who can destroy Donaire). Donaire never fought a boxer similar to Gamboa in skills and power (still less similar to Rigo, of course). Donaire is only two years younger than Rigo, it's impossible for him to reach Rigo's experience, fighting 3 or 4 times in a year (and selecting Arces, Nishiokas and similar rivals). - Rigo's intelligence is far superior. If you can't beat Rigo within first 3 rounds you have a very big problem to win this fight, because he knows all about you and will make required adjustments in real time. Donaire has only one strategy and only one style, he can't adapt his tactic to overcome opponent's boxing (like vs Narvaez for example) he is unidimentional and... taking Rigo's punches in the head is not the best way to become smarter.

Respectfully, I don't agree. IMO In those times amateur styles translated directly into pros. Not like recent times where Olympic boxing is a tap-tap fencing match where it doesn't translate at all. In addition his record was 66-11 with only 21 going to points. I don't think he would have beaten Ali but I think he would have been elite. Agree with you about amateur styles in those times but... I insist, almost everybody picked Stevenson to defeat Ali There were different agreements, from 1975 to 1979, between International Amateur Boxing Association and the WBC. Also participated the Cuban Boxing Federation and different promoters, including Don King. The idea was a 15 rounds fight divided in 3 fights of 5 rounds. Thus Stevenson could preserve his amateur status. Finally, with a fight date fixed and a money deal, Ali refused to fight. Stevenson physical conditions were exceptionals. He was taller (6'5'') and stronger (by far, the most powerful puncher I ever saw) than all big HW (Ali, Frasier and Foreman), he also was very fast and a very good technician. Foreman, who covered Olympic Games in 1976, said that Stevenson was the most dominant HW he ever saw (I heard him, maybe this tape is in youtube, I will search). Furthermore, Ali's second stage in boxing was worse than first, some times he adopted an strange defensive strategy and received many punches. In 3 rounds Ali could win by points, in 15 rounds Ali could be badly knocked out.

Rigo by KO within 6 Chemito is not as fast as Rigo and not so skillful, he would be unable to avoid Rigo's straight lefts and his punches to the body Also he is not Donaire who was weighing 12 pounds more than Rigo and has a good chin. Rigo would win by KO within first 6 rounds.

Savon could have done well, but not Stevenson. Back in the Stevenson era, When Castro went into power The Soviets sent over their best trainers to train the Cuban boxers in the European style. Cuban boxing went from American style fighting of just throwing hooks and slugging, like Kid Gavilan, to adopting a European Methodology of utilizing a jab and hitting and not getting hit. Stevenson was dominant in a developing era of Cuban boxing. I don't think that pure amateur style would have translated greatly into the pro's and I think he would have lost to Muhammad Ali had they ever fought. Over the years once they integrated that style and added some adjustments, you could see the difference with fighters like Rigondeaux and Savon to a fighter just starting out in Stevenson. I'm not agree with you. It's true that Stevenson belong to a developing era of Cuban boxing, but he was gifted with an exceptional genetics and he was lucky having a professor and scientific trainer as Andrei Chervonenko. Stevenson was far better than Savon (they were in two different levels and the gap was big) and I think he could have dominated HW pro. By this time only Ali had similar technical skills but Stevenson's power with both hands was exceptional. Bets, experts and promoters offered Stevenson many chances to win a world belt in his first fight and then dominate the HW division including Ali. Stevenson is second in my list of best boxers in Cuban history (Rigo, Stevenson, Chocolate, Gavilan, Napoles, Adolfo Horta,... ) I loved Savon but, despite his 3 olympic gold medals, he is not a top 10 pxp in Cuban boxing history and even is not a top 10 pxp in Cuban amateur boxing history. In HW division Balado was a far better boxer than him and even Solis (a real shame) was better.

Rigo or Gamboa have a very long way to go before they reach the legends of Jose Napoles, Kid Gavilan, Luis Manuel Rodriguez and Kid Chocolate. Rigo and Gamboa may the best lately because so many most Cuban defectors have failed terribly in the pros. Guys like Jorge Luis Gonzales, Ramon Garbey and Diosbelys Hurtado were unfortunately the best since Cuba fell to communism. What are you talking? Are you comparing Napoles (or Chocolate, Gavilan, etc.) to Rigo? Are you joking? Rigo has been more dominant, wherever he has been fighting, than ever have been any of the fighters you mentioned.... and by the way Rigo was fighting ALL THIS YEARS at the highest level, and these fighters don't. In the pro, when a fighter is defeated, spent one year fighting bums!!! Other example, Chris John is an undefeated "world champion" by 10 years...Could someone compare John's pro career with half of Rigo's amateur career?? It would be a joke! Otherwise, please, don't mention Jorge Luis Gonzales, nor Garbey, nor Diosbelys Hurtado nor Casamayor when talking about Rigo...these guys are nothing in Cuban boxing history, NOTHING!!!

Rigo shouldn't be limited to only fighting nonito's type of fight. Nonito was the guy ranked top 5 p4p, he should be able to deal with rigo's style. The fight would've been better if Nonito tried more. WHen he finally stepped on the pedal-rds 10-12, he got th KD but rigo regained control 45 secs later. In the 11th and 12th nonito ate shots-culminating with the black eye. Nonito kept his hand up afterwards. Fighters know when they are outclassed and in trouble, no matter how much we as fans like them. Look at floyd-hes back with his dad because cotto hit him way more than he should so its back to the defense. No matter what line of bs they sell us-they know the truth. Nonito fought like he didn't want to get KTFO in front of his pregnant wife in the biggest fight on the biggest stage of his career. Least he didnt pulla zab judah or victor ortiz. He can get better and will still be a problem for top fighters as he moves up. Good post, I agree

Rigo is the best Cuban boxer of all time I have no doubts: Rigo is the best Cuban boxer of all time (Of course it's not because he defeated Donaire, Rigo already defeated fighters better or similar to Donaire) Rigo is a world elite boxer since 2000 (he was 20 years old). He is undefeated for more than 10 years and BTW he won: 2 Olympic Games, 2 World Championships and many other tournaments (where boxers can´t avoid or select rivals) and... won SEVEN Cuban National Championships in line (not even Stevenson won 7 in line)!!! If Rigo had stayed in Cuba could have won the Olympics in 2008 and 2012 with great ease, with 31 years he would have been 4 times Olympic Champion, and 13 times Cuban Champion. Since Rigo turned professional in 2009 I have not seen anyone from 118 to 126 able to defeat him, not even Gamboa, whom he already defeated and who was the king at 126 and could destroy Donaire, Mares, etc. Beyond marketing campaings and economic interests of promoters, Rigo was ready to fight and defeat everybody in last 3 years... his poor boxing activity was a shame for Rigo and for boxing lovers. That's why he is the best boxer in amateur history and the best boxer in Cuba boxing history (amateur and pro). My list of the other best Cuban history fighters, in this order: Stevenson, Chocolate, Gavilán, Nápoles and Adolfo Horta (despite his 3 Olympic gold medals, Savon is not in the level of mentioned boxers, Solis and Balado was betters)

This is all I'm saying basically....He is capable of fighting much better, will that get him a W...who knows, but it will def make the fight more competitive. Donaire can fight better, no doubt, the problem is that Rigo is far superior, that's Donaire's problem. In the begining of the fight Rigo stood in the center of the ring, without moving, Donaire tried but received Rigo's hard punches....so he lay still and doubtful. He felt Rigo's power and feared being defeated by KO... that's all

The sight of Rigo getting wobbled by those left hooks v Marroquin was definitely a factor. I don't think many people thought Donaire would win a boxing match but most people thought he'd land his money shot at some point and get Rigo out of there. I went back and forth on it several times and in the end I thought Rigo couldn't go 12 rounds without that shot landing at some point. As it happened it landed in the first round and once he took it I instantly felt Donaire was fucked. I'm agree, I felt the same :rofl:

Rigo is the best from 118 to 126... by far I didn't like the stoppage so much, but I liked some of the things Mares did versus Ponce, he impressed me in some areas. I once said it would be easy work for Rigo, I don't necessarily retract it, but I give him more of chance. He's definitely proven himself as a capable fighter and it looks like he continues to improve :boxing: Mares is a good fighter but no way he can defeat Rigo. By the way, Rigo already easily outboxed Mares, as you can read in Mexican press http://goo.gl/VJPdL IMO Rigo would win by KO within in 6 rounds

Rigo is the best from 118 to 126... by far Mares is a very good fighter, he is in my top 50. Anyway he can't defeat Rigo. By the way, Rigo already easily outboxed Mares, as you can read in Mexican press http://goo.gl/VJPdL IMO Rigo would win by KO within in 6 rounds

This is a weird comparison First, Floyd is at his 4th or 5th Weightclass. In his natural weightclass, he's way better. On top of this, the guy is on the decline because of age. Floyd has shown consistently he can adapt to any style of the top fighters in his weight class. Rigo has shown he adapted to 1 style of a top fighter in his weight class, hence Floyd is ranked way higher in terms of P4P - Rigo hasn't shown he can adapt to Floyd's style. So I guess you can do these lists and pretend boxing is like Fight Night Champion or something, but it doesn't mean much. And this is coming from a guy who doesn't even like Floyd At present, with 17 different weight classes, be a champion of several classes do not mean too much. For example: Mares was champion at 118 fighting two times vs the same rival Agbeko (wining by SD and UD). He went straight into a title fight at 122 vs a 118 weight fighter and defended vs another 118 weight rival (Mares was a truly champion at 122?)... and now went straight into a title fight at 126. You completely ignore Rigo's amateur career, but he is a world elite boxer since 2000. He is undefeated for more than 10 years and won: 2 Olympic gold medals, 2 World Championships, as well as many other tournaments (where boxers can´t avoid or select rivals) and... SEVEN Cuban National Championships!!! That's why he is the best boxer in amateur history and the best Cuban boxer in history (amateur and pro). Rigo fought and defeated several boxers similar or superiors to Donaire. He already met all the styles and kinds of boxer. Most of professional boxers can't say the same.

Rigo won easily vs Cordoba I watched Rigondeaux vs Cordoba yesterday: I gave Rigondeaux rounds 2, 4, 5 and 10. I gave Cordoba rounds 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12, and I scored rounds 1 and 11 even. So I have Cordoba winning by 2 points. Rigo started potshotting him and throwing only a few punches per round, but still winning 3 of the first 5 rounds, then his trainer Ronnie Shields told him in the break to be more active (exciting) - so Rigo comes out in the 6th trading punches and he gets dropped - then he runs for the rest of the fight. That is the real story of this fight. Cordoba was chasing him around the ring after the 6th round and how can you give Rigo rounds in which is moving away without throwing or landing anything? I understand Cordoba wasn't throwing a billion punches either, but he was the aggressor and taking the fight to him. The moment Rigondeaux went toe to toe with Cordoba, he got knocked down. (By the way Cordoba also got knocked down by a bodyshot in the 4th round) I think Rigondeaux is a very skillful fighter, but on my scorecard he did not win the Cordoba fight. What are you saying? Rigo defeated Cordoba in an easily fight. Officialy it was an split decision, but the judges were wrong. After the fight, Cordoba team made an official protest. The WBA accepted to review the fight and designed three judges: Danny Nelson and John Poturaj from US, and Steffano Carozza from Italy. During the annual convention of WBA in november 2010 the judges analized the fight and the scorecards were: Nelson 117-110, Poturaj 116-110 and Carozza 115-112. So, the WBA championships committee said that Rigo WON THIS FIGHT BY UNANIMOUS DECISION!!! That's all. Sorry....

No I wont compare an aged Mayweather in his worst fight, against Rigo in his best fight LOL. I compare Rigo vs Donaire, to Floyd vs Juan. Most people already have. Floyd, like you said prior, is the much more superb fighter. There is no defensive fighter like Floyd. Rigo is great too. Simply, I was comparing their last fights: Rigo vs Donaire and Mayweather vs Cotto. If you think that Rigo vs Donaire was the best Rigo's fight in his career, you don't know nothing about Rigo. How can you say that Rigo vs Donaire was the Rigo's best fight? LOL!!! If you think that Mayweather vs Cotto is the worse Mayweather's fight so you don't know nothing about Mayweather. Anyway, you can compare other two fights, the "worse" Rigo's fight (vs Cordoba) and the good victory of Mayweather vs De La Hoya. Any way I insist: Rigo receives a lot less than Mayweather, watch all the videos that you want. I also add: Rigo has a lot more power, on both hands, than Mayweather.

Its hard to rate on a system like the one you presented. I will say this; Rigo only has so many counters. Check right hook, straight left counters, and left uppercuts. If you take those away, there's really not more variety left. Mayweather is all over the place with his counters. Rigo has to run allot. Floyd can stand and fight on the inside if he wants. Sometimes if you throw a punch at Rigo that is not close enough to land, he will still move. Floyd is an expert at range and inches. If you throw a punch at him that is a milli-inch away, he will not even blink his eye. He already knows its not close enough to land. He will look dead at the punch, as it stops inches away from his whiskers. Very sure of every single detale of your reach and range. Rigo is one of those guys that was taught the defensive moves to where he can move in all types of ways to avoid a punch. Floyd was taught all of these things as well, but he doesnt always use them. He sometimes already knows that you're an inch too far for your punch to actually land. That alone places Floyd above Pep, Niccoli, Pernell, and Rigo. Its more than defense with Floyd, its instinctively understanding your opponent's reach capabilities. Which is amazing. Hope your point of view on Rigo will go changing insofar that you can see more Rigo's fights. Of course Mayweather is a superb fighter. Rigo can throw any kinds of punches from unimaginable positions. Luckily we are in the video age, so we can see his professional fights and some videos from his amateur career. Rigo has more fighting expericence than any other present fighter. I'm following Rigo's boxing career since he was 18 years old. In his early years he was throwing a lot of punches but now he is in a superior level. At present, Rigo economizes punches, he only throws punches to make real damage. About his defensive tecniques: only say that Rigo receives a lot less than Mayweather. You can compare Rigo vs Donaire with Mayweather vs Cotto, for example

I think so... for sure

cuz he ran for his life when he got popped in the mouth. then cordoba fought his way back into the fight and made it a legit split decision, anyone could have won that fight and it wouldn't be considered a robbery that was the death of his chances against all the big dogs from 118-130 RIGHT NOW. If the fights were to happen today, which is what we're talking about. He didn't say, in a year, or in 2 years. Rigo ran for his life LOL! Rigo has more than 400 fights in his back, he fought (no matter that he was in amateur) with all kind of boxers, fast boxers, skillful boxers, and strong boxers... The fight wiht Cordoba was only a Rigo's mistake and not a Cordoba's succes. I don't like Rigo vs Cordoba, any way the figth would be a UD. Anyway and because of Cordoba's claim, three judges of the MB reevaluated the fight and the result was a clear UD. Please don't mention again Cordoba as a real rival to Rigo, Cordoba is a mediocre boxer, 5 levels down the Rigo's class Salido would be ko in 3 rounds fighting Rigo. Fighting Rigo is very dangerous for the health for a forward boxer with poor defense and poor technique.

Thompson's only Chance is to show up at 110-112kg in a great shape and to fight like in 2008 against Wladimir Klitschko. He definitely has more experience but Solis is more talented, works harder and is mentally stronger in my opinion. 60-40 fight in favour of Solis. If Thompson Comes in a great shape, I would then rate it as a 55-45 fight still in favour of Solis Solis has more experience that Thompson... by far.

NO-NO-NOnito, your loss was against a boxing master, nothing bad about that. Rigo is not Arce or Nishioka, he won every fight in last 12 years, and by the way won 2 olympic games, 2 amateur world championships, 12 pro fights... and SEVEN Cuban Championships in line!!! This man is a boxing legend and I still appreciate you after the fight because you still are a very good fighter... You don't need to explain nothing, all is OK. Please, stop telling ****, you are making things worse. You don't need a shoulder surgery, you need a surgery for repairing your face and... if you continue talking you will need a brain surgery

Man I'm here...and although I thought the ref dropped the ball Mendez looked weak. I don't need to hide. I give credit where credit is due. Mendez never looked so lost...If that's how is gonna be if he gets a rematch he better just forget it. As I wrote, Barthelemy by KO. I hope you remember me

Rigo is the best from 118 to 126... by far Schaefer and GBP should offer 3 million for Rigo. :fing26: Mares is a very good fighter, he is in my top 50. Mexican brothers, honestly, no way Mares can beat Rigo. Ten years ago Rigo easily outboxed Mares, as you can read in Mexican newspapers http://goo.gl/VJPdL Nowdays the gap between them has increased: experience, speed, power with both hands and technical skills favor Rigo by far. IMO Rigo would win 19 of 20 fights (15 by KO) My bet: Rigo by Ko within 6 rounds

I wrote: Barthelemy by KO... that's all illpapi answer: By KO? Who are you kidding? The only chance Barthelemy has is winning by decision and that's only because sometimes Mendez's work rate tends to be a little low... Now... tell me

i see what your point is, my only point is id rather see them at a higher weight cuz.both are tall as hell and would cut less weight you are right, I think we will see both guys moving up in weight

Barthelemy by KO

Barthelemy by KO... that's all

By KO? Who are you kidding? The only chance Barthelemy has is winning by decision and that's only because sometimes Mendez's work rate tends to be a little low. But Barthelemy for the most part likes to counterpunch and dance around the ring....meaning he doesn't usually bring the fight to the other fighter. So, given that Mendez is also an excellent counterpuncher and has pretty decent defense I give him the edge and in my opinion he is better in the pocket. Argenis is a very good boxer, but... midnight next Friday we'll talk again... don't forget it.

By KO? Who are you kidding? The only chance Barthelemy has is winning by decision and that's only because sometimes Mendez's work rate tends to be a little low. But Barthelemy for the most part likes to counterpunch and dance around the ring....meaning he doesn't usually bring the fight to the other fighter. So, given that Mendez is also an excellent counterpuncher and has pretty decent defense I give him the edge and in my opinion he is better in the pocket. well... tell me something

Dude...I already replied. If you have been watching boxing long enough you would know that was unexpected. I am already 50 yr old... and started boxing with 10 yr. Rances is a better boxer and Mendez very well used his size advantage to beat his former rivals. But Rances is taller and stronger. It is not magic or unexpected. At 140 would be worse for Mendez vs Rances

It might be time for him to move up cuz that wasnt Mendez out there BUT Rances shut that ish down so big props to the boy. Id love to see this fight again but at 140. at 140 would be worse for Mendez... more power from Barthelemy

Donaire would be beaten by KO in a rematch Even when you watch the video of Donaire's best win (vs Montiel, for example) and compares with the "worst" Rigo's fight (vs Cordoba), you can appreciate skills and deficiencies from both fighters. It is clear that, despite Donaire's height and weight, Rigo is in a superior boxing level. Even at 126 the technical gap would be enough for Rigo. My bet would be: Rigo wining by KO.